1976

Hillside’s adoption services expanded in 1976 when state approval was granted for a merger between Hillside Children’s Center and Northaven, Inc., a local welfare agency that first began offering assistance to unwed mothers and prospective adoptive couples in 1895.

The Emergency Shelter is established to offer a place for children who needed an immediate place to stay. It was someplace they could go, outside of their family home, while waiting to be evaluated and placed in an appropriate long-term program.

1977

Convalescent Hospital for Children (Crestwood Children’s Center) establishes Allen P. Mills House to meet the mental health needs of adolescent boys in a community group home setting. Allen P. Mills became a board member in 1935 and continued to serve Crestwood Children's Center until 1980. He served as board president from 1953-1956.

1983

Two new residential treatment centers are added to Hillside Children’s Center, resulting in the "country’s first specialized unit for mentally ill, hearing impaired youths"

1984

Hillside Children’s Center establishes first residential treatment facility program in New York State, a cluster therapeutic foster family care program in Central New York, a residential treatment facility for hearing impaired, and Bausch gym and basement are converted into an education complex.

Snell Farm begins operations separate from Family Life Ministries, but continues to lease from the organization the donated property.

1985

There is a fire in Bausch Cottage at Hillside Children’s Center.

1986

The first family preservation services program in New York State is established by Hillside Children’s Center.

Convalescent Hospital for Children (Crestwood Children’s Center) establishes a dual diagnosis program for children with cognitive impairments and mental health diagnosis.

The Urban League of Rochester and the Council for Educational Development issued a "Call for Action" asking the business community to become more involved with the city’s school system and to help reduce the area’s high dropout rate.

1987

Wegmans Food Markets responded to the Urban League’s call for assistance in reducing the high dropout rate among city high school students by creating the Work-Scholarship Connection Program (Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection). The program is a dropout prevention plan for at-risk youth that combines a strong support network with job and scholarship opportunities.

Hillside Children’s Center celebrates its 150-year anniversary.

1991

Convalescent Hospital for Children changes its name to Crestwood Children's Center. The name "Crestwood" symbolizes the bridge between past and future. "Crest" represents being on the cutting edge and "wood" symbolizes our past built on strength and security.

President George Bush awards Wegmans Work-Scholarship Connection (Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection) the American Business Press "Points of Light."

1992

Harvard University does a case study on Wegmans Work-Scholarship Connection (Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection).

1993

Crestwood Children's Foundation is formed to focus on raising program, capital, and endowment funding to support Crestwood Children's Center.

Wegmans Work-Scholarship Connection (Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection) is adopted and endorsed by the National Center on Education and the Economy. The Food Marketing Institute does a case study on Wegmans Work-Scholarship Connection (Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection).

Hillside Children’s Center opens its 28-acre Finger Lakes Campus near Auburn, NY in October. Located on this campus is a residential facility designed to meet the needs of severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.

1995

Building for the future takes commitment. At Hillside, many people share in that commitment: staff, board, funders, foster parents, and the families we serve. When Hillside set out to develop its vision for the future, we talked with these people. We asked them to imagine the ideal agency, service provider, and employer. The result is Hillside’s Shared Vision. The Shared Vision is the foundation for the future.  – Excerpt taken from “Management Comments,” 1995 Hillside Children’s Center Annual Report

The Cincinnati, OH schools ask Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to assist in the development of a prototype program.

1996

The Hillside Children’s Center Board of Directors establishes the Hillside Behavioral Health System. It serves as the parent organization for Hillside affiliates: Hillside Children’s Center, Hillside Children’s Foundation, and Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection.

Wegmans Work-Scholarship Connection changes its name to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection when it affiliates with what is now known as Hillside Family of Agencies.

1997

Strategic planning for Crestwood Children's Center and Foundation results in a partnership discussion with Hillside Behavioral Health System. Crestwood Children's Center’s provision of services is re-conceptualized into a unified clinical philosophy.

1998

Crestwood Children’s Center and Crestwood Children’s Foundation Boards signed an agreement to affiliate with Hillside Behavioral Health System.

The phase-out process for the old brand name, logo, and theme line began and will be completed by the end of the year.  "Building Better Futures with Children and Families" is the new theme line.

Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection celebrates its10th anniversary. The celebration focuses on the success of graduates and contributions made by local businesses that have supported the effort.

Snell Farm purchases from Family Life Ministries the 176-acre campus it had been leasing since 1984.

1999

Governors Bush and Pataki visit Hillside Children’s Center, recognizing Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection staff, clients, and employers for their accomplishments.

On May 13, the affiliation between Crestwood Children’s Center and Foundation and Hillside Behavioral Health System is finalized.

Hillside Behavioral Health System launches Hillside Family Forum, a radio program focusing on child and family-related issues airing monthly.  The show features Hillside experts on children and family issues, along with parents, children, and guests from the business, government, education, and sports communities.

Partners for Education & Business, Incorporated of Syracuse recognizes Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection with its Partnership of the Year Quality Award.

Hillside honored its newest day treatment facility, Halpern Education Center, and the donors who provided funds for the Center's new furnishings and educational equipment, at a formal dedication ceremony on Thursday, May 27 at the Center on 695 Bay Road in Webster, NY. 

2000

Governor George E. Pataki announced today that $4.8 million will be awarded to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection (HW-SC) for implementation of the State’s Teen Works Program in Rochester and Syracuse. Having served as the model for Teen Works, Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection will use the grant to continue to help at-risk high school students improve their academic performance, remain in school through graduation, and develop necessary job skills to succeed in the workplace.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) announced its new partnership and scholarship commitment to Hillside Scholarship Connection. When fully implemented, the program will provide up to $300,000 each year in scholarships to students who complete the HW-SC program and have been accepted for admission to RIT.